Sample Images

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Make

Canon

Model

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

ISO Speed

200

Focal Length

70.0mm

Aperture:

f/2.8

Exposure

1/3200s

Make

Canon

Model

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

ISO Speed

200

Focal Length

70.0mm

Aperture:

f/2.8

Exposure

1/2000s

Make

Canon

Model

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

ISO Speed

200

Focal Length

70.0mm

Aperture:

f/2.8

Exposure

1/3200s

Make

Canon

Model

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

ISO Speed

200

Focal Length

40.0mm

Aperture:

f/8.0

Exposure

1/320s

Make

Canon

Model

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

ISO Speed

200

Focal Length

24.0mm

Aperture:

f/11.0

Exposure

1/320s

Make

Canon

Model

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

ISO Speed

200

Focal Length

61.0mm

Aperture:

f/8.0

Exposure

1/640s

Make

Canon

Model

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

ISO Speed

200

Focal Length

70.0mm

Aperture:

f/2.8

Exposure

1/2000s

Make

Canon

Model

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

ISO Speed

640

Focal Length

24.0mm

Aperture:

f/4.0

Exposure

1/80s

Make

Canon

Model

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

ISO Speed

200

Focal Length

24.0mm

Aperture:

f/8.0

Exposure

1/800s

Make

Canon

Model

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

ISO Speed

200

Focal Length

24.0mm

Aperture:

f/2.8

Exposure

1/2000s

Verdict

I reckon that the Tamron designers had some fun during the design of the lens. Unlike with the Tamron AF 28-75mm f/2.8 SP XR they were not so much restricted by pricing concerns and the positive effect on the results is obvious - the Tamron AF 24-70mm f/2.8 SP Di USD VC is an impressive lens. It is capable of delivering very sharp results at medium aperture settings and at max. aperture the center quality is more than decent. Lateral CAs are very low which contributes to the high sharpness perception. The vignetting is very pronounced at f/2.8 but this is actually quite normal in this (full format) lens class. You should either stop down to f/5.6 or take care of this during post processing. Distortions are primarily an issue at 24mm. They are a bit higher than average here but not a significant problem anymore from 35mm onward. The quality of the bokeh is somewhat mixed. It is quite smooth in the background but the foreground as well as bokeh highlights can be nervous. Bokeh fringing is not an issue to worry about.

So far we were mostly unimpressed by the build quality of Tamron lenses. However, we are happy to report that things have improved with the Tamron AF 24-70mm f/2.8 SP Di USD VC. The lens barrel is mostly made of plastics but it is of high quality and it is tightly assembled. The new weather sealing is very welcome, of course. Same goes for the very fast and silent USD (ultrasonic AF drive). The Tamron lens has one unique selling point: it is the first fast standard zoom lens to feature an image stabilizer and based on what we have experienced during the field trip we would rate it with a 3 f-stops efficiency. Your mileage may vary here a bit into the one or the other direction depending on your shake characteristic.

The Tamron AF 24-70mm f/2.8 SP Di USD VC is not a perfect lens - none really are - but regarding the sum of its qualities it is obviously the best standard zoom for Canon EOS at this stage - at least till the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 USM L II enters the scene. However, in any case it will be very hard to beat from a price perspective!